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of boxes listed in this finding aid.

Scope and Content of Collection

These sound recordings, which relate to conditions in Afghanistan, were created by Akbar during his trips to Afghanistan.
The cassettes were generated from his first trip in summer 2002, and the MindiDiscs came from his following trip, in 2003.
The recordings of both trips were the basis for successive radio documentaries on Ira Glass's "This American Life" (Chicago
Public Radio).

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Afghanistan--History--2001-

Phonotapes.

Collection Contents

box 1

Sound recordings of Afghanistan trip 2002 May-September

Scope and Content Note

17 audio cassette tapes

box 1

Sound recording of commentary in anticipation of Akbar's trip to Afghanistan 2002 May 4

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0002959

Scope and Content Note

In preparation for a trip to Afghanistan, Akbar comments on what he hopes to take in. Though he is only going for a couple
months, he believes he will delay his return home once he's in Afghanistan. He is in awe of his father's new, high-profile
position, and he believes his father will shortly become the governor of the Kunar province. He then contemplates the realities
of a region at war, including the bombing of Kunar and casualties his family knows. This prompts him to look for news online.
Following, he contemplates things he needs to do before he leaves including refreshing his skills with an Afghan alphabet
and figuring out when he gets his high school diploma. In English

box 1

Narration describing Afghanistan in Spring 2002 2002 May - June

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0002770

Scope and Content Note

Akbar narrates his travels from Pakistan, through the Khyber Pass, and into Jalalabad and Kabul. He describes various aspects
of the area, including, but not limited to, the chaotic driving environment, post-conflict devastation, marketplaces, the
reaction of locals to seeing someone with a microphone, interactions with family and important family friends, the hotel in
Kabul, and his personal trip from San Francisco to Afghanistan. Throughout, Akbar is interested in recording ambient noises.
The sound quality is good, but there is significant background noise throughout. Though Akbar narrates in English, he often
interacts with locals in the native language. Label reads: Tape #1 Peshawar - Kabul. In English

Side B describes Akbar's family friends before recounting the trip from Pakistan to Afghanistan through the Khyber Pass. He
goes on to detail spending time with his father and introduction to Afghan politics. Side A label reads: Hyder Tape #2 Commentary.
Side B label reads: Hyder Tape #2 Personal Comm. In English

box 1

Sound recording of commentary describing Afghanistan in June 2002 2002 June

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0002772

Scope and Content Note

In this recording Akbar describes meeting important people in Afghan politics--ministers, warlords, Karzai, etc. Akbar also
describes how one passes time without television, radio, or Internet. Includes commentary about the Loya jirga. Side A and
B labels both read: Hyder Tape #3. In English

box 1

Sound recording of commentary describing Afghanistan in June 2002 2002 June

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0002773

Scope and Content Note

Commentary topics on this recording include the results of Loya Jirga, the funeral of Akbar's great-grandfather, and why his
grandfather turned down the chance to be head-of-state. Side B label reads: Tape #4 Baba Going to Kunar. In English

box 1

Sound recording of commentary describing Afghanistan in July 2002 2002 July 6

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0002817

Scope and Content Note

This commentary follows an assassination of a family friend and minister. Akbar describes the first days of his father's role
as Karzi's spokesman dealing with this event. Side A label reads: #5. Side B label reads: Assasination of Haji Jedir #5. In
English

box 1

Sound recording of commentary describing Afghanistan in July 2002 2002 July 15

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0002818

Scope and Content Note

This recording describes, among other topics, Akbar's uncle with a glass eye, the Afghan experience with past wars versus
the American experience with past wars, how his father grew up, American media in Afghanistan, the Afghan people and their
culture. Side A label reads: Tape #6 Raox Mama. Side B label reads: Tape #6 Naab [??] Violence. In English

box 1

Sound recording of commentary describing Afghanistan in July 2002 2002 July

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0002819

Scope and Content Note

This tape describes Akbar's experiences with the American media in Afghanistan, the impact of decades of war, his frustration
with Afghan political leaders, opposition to and danger to his father, and the lack of luxuries in Afghanistan. Side A label
reads: Hyder Akbar Tape #7. Side B label reads: Frustration! In English

Akbar describes traveling in a car in Kabul, comments on Afghan life/culture, describes getting sick on bad food, and relates
why he is excited to return to America. He had recently returned from a trip to northern Afghanistan. Label reads: Hyder Tape
#9. In English

box 1

Sound recording of commentary describing Afghanistan in September 2002 2002 September 5-6

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0002916

Scope and Content Note

In this recording Akbar describes food options concerning what makes his stomach sick, a bomb explosion that shook the hotel
and killed lots of people, and the assassination attempt on Karzai. Included are recordings he made of BBC coverage of the
bombing and assassination attempt. He offers analysis that the Karzai government is ineffective; that neighboring countries
want an unstable, war-torn Afghanistan; how the attempt will not be answered by the administration; and comparing the attempt
to the start of the Jihad against the Soviets and as the start of a new movement of regrouped Taliban. Label reads: Tape #10
Assassination. In English

box 1

Sound recording of the press conference regarding the assassination attempt on President Karzai in 2002 2002 September 6

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0002917

Scope and Content Note

Akbar sits and records in front of the BBC at the press conference. Side A label reads: Tape #11 Day at Palace. Side B label
reads: Tape #11 Press Conference. In English

box 1

Sound recording of commentary on Afghan life in summer 2002 2002 September 6-7

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0002918

Scope and Content Note

Akbar describes Karzai's office during an interview, his second to last night in Afghanistan, guns, and a ride in an old Soviet
helicopter. Side A label reads: Tape #12. Side B label reads: Tape #12 Panjaher. In English

box 1

Sound recording from Afghanistan in September 2002 2002 September 11

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0002957

Scope and Content Note

Akbar narrates his last day in Kabul, time in Jalalabad, and provides commentary on related issues. Covers the end of a press
conference, a final helicopter ride, a trip to a grave, what people will do to get to America, his last dinner in Afghanistan,
time spent in Peshawar, and leaving to go back to America. While Akbar's notes are in English, the dinner is in a local language.
Label reads: Tape 13. In English

box 1

Sound recording from Pakistan in September 2002 2002 September 11

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0002958

Scope and Content Note

Final concluding notes from Akbar's trip. Label reads: #14. In English

box 1

Sound recordings of Afghanistan trip 2003

Scope and Content Note

25 MiniDiscs. Disc 17 is corrupt and the contents is largely unintelligible.

This minidisc has many different recordings on it. The first is an English-language interview between a western journalist
and Akbar's father. It concerns the chaos in Afghanistan, the influence of warlords, and regrouping of the Taliban. Following,
Akbar describes how he needs armed guards to go out in the city. Next is a recording of one of his father's business meetings.
Akbar then discusses a jirga. Please note that this minidisc has become corrupt and the final 18 minutes and 20 seconds are
unavailable. Possibly minidisc 20a. In English

box 1

Sound recording of commentary regarding a trip to Afghanistan 2003

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0003078

Scope and Content Note

Akbar discusses a variety of topics in preparation for his return to Afghanistan. It sounds like he was on the phone with
someone and this is a recording of his side. First is a person mentioned before, Julalie (sp?), Interior Minister of Afghanistan.
Then he discusses an ad in an anti-Pasto newspaper for a press secretary. Prior to taking out the ad, those responsible didn't
inform Akbar's father, who was the press secretary. Akbar notes his father is in Kunar in order to help confront the warlords
and has since been attacked. Akbar lays out what he expects in his trip. In ways this trip will be different than his first
the year before; he believes he will be better prepared, and he believes he'll be much more comfortable in Kunar than trapped
in a Kabul hotel. He notes how the trip relates to his studies in college. He reflects on going to a community college versus
a traditional college. He says Afghanistan is full of western-trained professionals, but that's a moot point due to political/war
issues. He wants to use his education to do good for Afghanistan. For example, he's thinking about majoring in economics,
as opposed to his previous focus on getting an MBA. During his comments, he reflects on the fact that he doesn't dream at
night like he did as a child. He mentions the relationship between Kabul and the providences. He speaks about the importance
of beards in Afghanistan. Label reads: Hyder Akbar Kunar Tape # 1 "Pre-Kunar 1." In English

box 1

Sound recording of commentary regarding a trip to Afghanistan 2003

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0003079

Scope and Content Note

Label reads: Hyder Disc 2 "pre-kunar 2" KUNARLOG2. In English

box 1

Sound recording of commentary regarding a trip to Afghanistan2003 May

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0003080

Scope and Content Note

Akbar records in preparation for his trip to Afghanistan. He provides an overview of his recording equipment. He describes
his room. He talks about his upcoming trip, including that a helicopter will await him to take him to Kunar. He is looking
forward to driving around Hong Kong during a layover. He plays the computer game Civilization 3. He then reads news about
Afghanistan, including an article from the Guardian. Label reads: Hyder Disc 3 Mic Check "lav check 1" 5/03 KUNARLOG3.
In English

box 1

Sound recording of commentary regarding a trip to Afghanistan 2003 May

Sound recordings of an interview with Khalilzad and other commentary 2003

Note

Use copy reference number: 2008c35_a_0004966

Scope and Content Note

This MiniDisc is corrupted. While the interview with Khalilzad is mostly unintelligible, it may be possible to figure out
what is being talked about. The commentary section of this disc is okay. Disc 17. In English